Dog-Friendly Scottish Highlands

Ardlearag is an outstanding architecturally-designed and timber-clad holiday home in the North West Scotland. Overlooking the sea loch Little Loch Broom, Ardlearag also has views of the isolated Scoraig peninsula and wee mountain Beinn Ghobhlach across the loch, and to the east An Teallach, a fabulous Munro, is in view and only a few miles away. Staying at Ardlearag is like striking gold. Pulling up at the stunning property you won’t believe your luck. Any length of time booked is guaranteed to be too short.

The property nestles into the landscape right beside the water and is surrounded by mountains. The area around Ardlearag is known as the ‘great wilderness’ and staying at the property makes it easy to see why. The front of the house looks towards the water and mountains -quite rightly - so you enter through the back door. On the left there’s a well-placed utility room, perfect for cleaning up after long days out exploring in the wilds. Quickly you discover the wow factor of the house, which is the vast amount of glass in the open plan living/dining/kitchen area. Views up the loch and across the water are truly sensational. It’s an amazing room making the most of the surroundings, and it’s finished to a fantastic high standard (like the whole house). To return to this room after days out on adventures is pure bliss.

Beyond the house the great wilderness awaits. An Teallach is a fantastic Munro and with it being so close it deserves an attempt or two during your holiday. Ullapool and Assynt beyond are not far away, and to the south the coastal villages of Aultbea, Poolewe and Gairloch with numerous sandy beaches to choose from await. Staying at Ardlearag is a superb choice for the most amazing of Highland holidays. Book now and forever be happy with your choice!

Enjoying a quiet setting with panoramic views across the extensive grounds and on towards the beautiful Cairngorm mountain range, Sunnyside House makes just the perfect base for exploring one of the most scenic and popular holiday destinations in Scotland. The house has been equipped and furnished to a high standard which will ensure you have as supremely comfortable and relaxing holiday as possible, with your every need taken care of. Robes are provided for after a soak in the hot tub and dog beds, cages and dishes are included for your four-legged friends.
Located just a mile or so from the centre of the village of Carrbridge and only 11 miles from the vibrant town of Aviemore, both situated in the heart of The Cairngorms National Park and at the head of the Speyside Way, Sunnyside House can be used as a base to explore or to relax and unwind. Carrbridge has the usual village facilities with a larger range available in Aviemore. The area boasts a super range of shops, restaurants and bars along with a wide range of outdoor activities – skiing and snowboarding, mountain and quad biking, climbing and hill walking and a variety of water sports on nearby Loch Insh, Loch Morlich and the River Spey, zip lining and zorbing are just a few of the myriad of activities available. Take a trip on the Cairngorm Mountain funicular railway, the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre or the Highland Wildlife Park at nearby Kingussie and the Landmark Forest Adventure Park which is just a short distance from the house – a superb day of fun for all ages. Visit the lovely Spey Valley golf course and the Dalfaber Leisure Resort in Aviemore with its wonderful array of leisure activities.
Further afield, take a trip to the beautiful west coast and the Isle of Skye or a day trip to the Orkney Islands is well worth the effort. Visit the Moray coastline peppered with little fishing villages and beautiful beaches – voted in the top 20 of the best coastline destinations in the world. This is an area with so much to offer, see and do for all ages. For the less energetic, you can sit back by the side of the wood burner or soak in the hot tub and let the stresses of everyday life slip away. So many happy and unforgettable memories will be made on your holiday in Sunnyside House. Beach 24½ miles. Shop 1½ miles, pub and restaurant ½ mile.

Balmore Farmhouse is located just a few miles south of Inverness and is only 2 miles away from the infamous Loch Ness. The property has been fully renovated to a good standard and offers guests a superb level of comfort and space.
Enter into the spacious reception hall, leading to a living room with comfortable leather sofas that wrap around the cosy wood burner. The kitchen/dining room is well-equipped with all you could need during your stay, and provides great views over the countryside. The utility room with washing machine and tumble dryer offers a useful space for cleaning mucky clothes after a busy day of adventuring. On the ground floor there is a kingsize bedroom with a private dressing room and an en-suite shower room that is also accessed from the hallway.
On the first floor there are three large bedrooms, two with kingsize beds, and one with a single bed, all served by a family bathroom. Outside there is ample parking and a large enclosed garden. Balmore Farmhouse makes an ideal holiday base for exploring the many delights of the Northern Highlands. Located on the outskirts of the Highland capital of Inverness and close to Loch Ness and the Moray Coast, the area is renowned for its natural beauty along with the many activities available, including golf, kayaking, water sports, mountain biking, climbing and hill walking to name just a few. Discover some of the many historic castles, such as Culloden Battlefield and Fort George, or stroll along some of the many unspoilt beaches. Beach and bar and restaurant 3 miles. Shop 2 miles.

Nestling amid the glorious Highland countryside, with a stunning backdrop of mountains, this traditionally built stone house stands detached on the site of an old croft, on a 350-acre estate. Ideal for year round family holidays, it features a most attractively furnished, designer interior, which opens out onto a large, south-facing enclosed garden laid mainly to lawn. The surrounding area is a nature lover’s paradise, with several lochs close by offering excellent fishing and bird-watching opportunities, and much indigenous flora and fauna. Inverness 17 miles. Shops 6 miles, pub 1 mile (open Apr-Oct).

This wonderful detached property, with its own hot tub in a private garden, enjoys a quiet setting, yet it is only 1½ miles from the lively centre of Aviemore. Providing guests with an unforgettable holiday experience, Birch Corner offers spacious and beautifully presented holiday accommodation with your every need having been thought of.
Aviemore nestles in the heart of The Cairngorms National Park at the head of the Speyside Way and boasts a wonderful range of shops, restaurants and bars. The area also offers a very wide range of outdoor activities including skiing, snowboarding, mountain and quad biking, zip lining, climbing, hill walking plus a variety of watersports on nearby Loch Insh, Loch Morlich and the River Spey, to name just a few of the myriad of activities available. Take a trip on the Cairngorm Mountain Railway, visit the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre, Landmark Centre in nearby Carrbridge or take a trip to the Highland Wildlife Park at nearby Kingussie, all of which are within easy reach. About 12 miles from Kingussie, lies the Ardverikie Estate, which has been the setting for films including the BBC TV’s drama series ’Monarch of the Glen’, as well as the location for movies such as ’The Missionary’ and ’Mrs Brown’.
Another visitor attraction for all the family to enjoy, not far from Kingussie, is the Highland Folk Museum, which offers an insight into Highland life in a living history setting. All in all, this is a fantastic base for exploring the many delights that this area has to offer, and there is so much to see and do for all ages. Shop, pub and restaurant 1 mile.

Shielside lies on the outskirts of the ancient crofting village of Acharacle, at the western end of Loch Shiel, on the Ardnamurchan peninsula. It offers four double bedrooms, all with en-suite facilities and bedrooms 2 and 4 are particularly spacious. It also has its own large, enclosed garden for guests to enjoy.
Ardnamurchan is a wild and beautiful place, designated as a National Scenic Area for its outstanding scenery and landscape, a popular holiday destination, rich in wildlife with some fabulous walks and great scenery. Acharacle has a village store and post office, Hotel and bar, local garage, café, medical practice and gift shop. Other villages within a short drive have similar facilities and there are plenty of opportunities for cycling, kayaking and wild swimming. Acharacle is 45 miles from Fort William via a single-track, well-surfaced road through the wild depths of Moidart.
Fort William, known as the “Outdoor Capital of the UK” has a wide variety of attractions which make ideal walking opportunities on the West Highland Way, the Great Glen Way, Ben Nevis and Glen Nevis. There are a variety of shops, hotels, restaurants, distilleries, a bus station and railway station with links to Mallaig, Glasgow and Edinburgh as well as an overnight sleeper to London. At the foot of Ben Nevis, you can enjoy a world-class mountain bike trail in summer, or skiing in winter. The steam train made famous by the ’Harry Potter’ films, can take you on a spectacular journey from Fort William through Glenfinnan and its famous monument to Bonnie Price Charlie and on to Mallaig. You will also find plenty of walking and cycling opportunities.

Set on the shores of Loch Lochy with breathtaking views across to Ben Nevis and the Aonach Mor mountains. This detached log home is furnished to a wonderful standard. Gairlochy Bay is set in a stunning location, accessed via a gravelled forest track, and guests can fish from the decking, watch the boats sail through the Caledonian Canal or wander around a network of paths and shoreline. For those wishing to get out and about it is an excellent base to explore the Highlands and the Western Isles, known for its magnificent scenery and abundance of wildlife. Fort William is the nearest town with an array of shops, bars and restaurants, whilst Inverness and Oban are also easily reached. The local scenery has been used as the backdrop for many well known films, such as Braveheart and Rob Roy. Visitors can also take the steam train to Mallaig passing over the Glenfinnan Viaduct as depicted in one of the Harry Potters movies, the gondola up the Nevis mountain range, or visit the Loch Ness monster. Outdoor activities include skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, walking, climbing, horse riding, golf and a variety of watersports. There are plenty of beautiful gardens and ruined castles to be visited and the area is famous for its rich historical legacy. Shop and pub 3 miles.

Enjoying wonderful views across the Caledonian Canal to Ben Nevis, the Aonach Mor ski range and Glen Nevis, this bright and spacious detached bungalow is situated on a working croft in one of the most spectacular parts of the Highlands. There is a wealth of activities in the area, including skiing, climbing, hill walking, mountain biking, sailing, fishing and golf. Although rural the property is not isolated; the local shop is ¾ mile and pub and restaurant are a short walk away. During the summer the West Highland steam train, as seen in Harry Potter Films, passes close by enroute to Mallaig, where ferries depart for Skye and the small isles. Fort William, ‘the outdoor capital of the Highlands’ is just 4 miles away. It boasts a variety of excellent facilities, including swimming pool, and restaurants. The property makes an ideal base for touring the numerous places of interest in the region, including Glencoe, Loch Ness and the beautiful unspoilt Ardnamurchan Peninsula. Shop ¾ mile, pub and restaurant 500 yards.
Stepps Cottage can be booked together with W40834 Lapwing Rise (sleeps 7) which is next door.

Valhalla Brae is a well-presented spacious property, with the owners taking full advantage with the layout to maximise the wonderful views. Plush, comfortable furnishings of a very good standard await your stay, with comfort very much at the forefront of your holiday. The layout suits all, with a large family sized bedroom on the ground floor, and two further doubles to the first floor each with en-suite facilities. The living room is on the first floor too, with a large feature window to give maximum views across the bay and castle. On the ground floor is a large dining kitchen with everything you need to make a hearty meal or sit round and enjoy a drink and good company of an evening. Outside is a garden to the side of the property laid mainly to lawn, with a decked seating area, watch the summer evenings draw to a close or start the day with a coffee whilst taking in the fresh sea air from this perfect spot.

Close to Dunnet Head, an excellent viewpoint and puffin breeding area. Much wildlife spotted around the area, birds, seals, otters even orcas. Just a short walk from the property lies Keiss harbour, the old castle and a 3-mile-long beach. This charming backwater seems untouched by time and there are lovely walks around the headland and along the coastline direct from the property. Valhalla Brae makes a perfect base for exploring this beautiful part of the Highlands. Visit the county town of Wick with its variety of town facilities, the Castle of Mey or visit the Orkney Islands, which are within easy reach. Bird watching, fishing, links golf and sea cruises are just some of the many activities available. Shop 8 miles, pub and restaurant within ½ mile.

The owners have lovingly looked after Cliff Cottage, and this detached property is perfect for a family holiday. Before you enter the front door you’ll notice raised beds in the front garden with vegetables that you are welcome to help yourself to in season! The interior is finished to a great standard, with many bespoke features and lovely local artworks displayed. Cliff Cottage makes the ideal base for a holiday in the Highlands, and Applecross is a very, very special part of Scotland. People often mistakenly overlook it in favour of Skye or Loch Ness, and many drive past the peninsula when journeying along the North Coast 500. To visit Applecross is to be treated to a highlight of travel experiences.
Making your way to Applecross is an adventure, particularly if you take the southern road. The Bealach na Bà sounds like something out of Lord of the Rings, and when you get your eyes on this mountain pass, you’ll agree that it would sit pride of place in a Tolkien adventure. It’s a steep drive from sea level to over 2,000ft, and one of the best routes to experience in the UK and Europe. Reaching the top, the expansive, rugged moors of the Applecross interior stretch out in front of you, and the views back down the glacial carved valley you’ve driven up are truly awe inspiring. This is what the Highlands are really about! Descend down to the shore on the west coast of Applecross where there’s an inn, cafés, a restaurants and lots of amenities. This is the hub of the peninsula, and where you’ll visit plenty of times during your stay. Cliff Cottage is to the north of Applecross Bay, only 7 miles up the coast.
Two miles before Cliff Cottage’s driveway is Sand Bay, which is one of the best beaches on the west coast, one to visit a few times during your stay. Cliff Cottage is accessed via a track that leads down to this sheltered and charming spot for a holiday base. Beyond Cliff Cottage, the road continues along the entire west and north coast of the Applecross Peninsula, and is a great scenic route to take during your holiday. It gives you access to Shieldaig and Torridon. You are just a stone’s throw away from the coast and Applecross is your backdrop. Book now and forever be grateful that you did! beach 2 miles.